Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump administration investigated Representative Ilhan Omar's citizenship paperwork with intent to strip citizenship — Federal agents, acting under Trump administration direction, conducted a search of Representative Ilhan Omar's home on Monday, seizing her cellphone, notebooks, personal computers, and passport. According to Wall Street Journal reporting, the investigation targets citizenship paperwork completed by her father in the 1990s when the family arrived from a refugee camp in Kenya, with the stated goal of finding grounds to strip her of U.S. citizenship and deport her. Omar is running for reelection with Election Day less than a month away. DOJ rules caution prosecutors against actions that could affect elections or create such perception.
• Federal agents search home of Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar — Federal agents searched the home of Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar on Monday as part of a criminal investigation. More details about the investigation were not immediately clear. Vice President JD Vance has previously accused Omar of committing immigration fraud without offering evidence and stated that he and deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller had been discussing how to investigate the Minnesota congresswoman and "what the legal remedies are" now that they believe "she's committed immigration fraud." Omar's chief of staff Connor McNutt responded that the accusation was "a ridiculous lie and desperate attempt to distract" from the administration's unpopular policies. Omar posted after the raid: "This is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement. For 10 years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation."
• Trump administration and DOJ attack on Representative Ilhan Omar — Representative Ilhan Omar faced what the article describes as a "devastating attack by Trump and the DOJ." The article references this incident as a basis for urging supporters to donate to her campaign and offer support via her office phone line. No specific charges, legal action, or enforcement detail is provided in the text; the nature and timing of the attack are not elaborated.

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• Todd Blanche declines to pledge DOJ independence from White House — US Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, declined on NBC's Meet the Press to pledge that the Department of Justice would act independently of the White House, stating "no attorney general should ever pledge that." Blanche asserted Trump would never ask him to do something unethical or illegal, dismissing concerns about politicization as a "false narrative." His comments came days after his narrow 50-49 Senate confirmation and amid Trump's dismissal of his predecessor Pam Bondi over insufficient action against Trump's political opponents.
• Attorney General Todd Blanche refused to pledge DOJ independence from White House — On NBC's Meet the Press, Attorney General Todd Blanche refused to pledge that the DOJ will always act independently of the White House, stating "No, I'm not going to pledge that, and no AG ever should." When asked if he would comply with a presidential directive that crosses ethical or legal lines, Blanche responded that the president "would never do that" and "never has" and "never will," without committing to refuse unlawful orders.

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• White House directed Justice Department to reconsider Reflecting Pool vandalism prosecution — Trump's White House asked the Justice Department to examine whether prosecutors could bring new charges related to alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The DOJ had previously prosecuted former Olympic canoeist David Hearn over damage to the pool liner, but prosecutors dropped the case after reviewing evidence showing that rushed and flawed renovation work, not vandalism, caused the problems. Trump repeatedly blamed vandals for the damage and, despite new evidence, criticized the decision to drop the case and urged U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to reconsider it.

Supporting reports

• White House requests DOJ revive charges against former Olympian David Hearn — The White House requested that the Department of Justice weigh new charges against former Olympian David Hearn after US Attorney Jeanine Pirro dropped vandalism charges on 31 July 2026, citing insufficient evidence and a contractor's flawed pool installation. Pirro's office determined damage predated Hearn's visit. Trump publicly criticized Pirro's decision. The request to Main Justice headquarters marks an extraordinary instance of White House pressure on DOJ prosecutorial decisions, departing from traditional arm's-length separation.

Supporting reports

• Trump attacks U.S. Attorney Pirro and demands she reverse decision to drop indictment — President Trump posted that "U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro should re-visit her hastily made decision" to drop the indictment against David Hearn, attacking Hearn as "a big player in ActBlue" and describing Hearn's attorney as a "TRUMP DERANGED SLEAZEBAG" and "Political Hack Lawyer." Trump's post pressures the U.S. Attorney to reverse her prosecutorial decision based on political considerations rather than legal merit.
• Trump demands U.S. Attorney Pirro prosecute David Hearn for reflecting pool damage — President Trump continues to insist that vandals, not poor installation, caused damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and demands that U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro prosecute the alleged wrongdoers. Trump specifically demands prosecution of Olympian David Hearn, whom the Department of Justice indicted, despite Pirro's decision to drop the indictment after determining the damage resulted from installation problems rather than vandalism.
• White House requests DOJ revive charges against former Olympian David Hearn — The White House requested that the Department of Justice weigh new charges against former Olympian David Hearn after US Attorney Jeanine Pirro dropped vandalism charges on 31 July 2026, citing insufficient evidence and a contractor's flawed pool installation. Pirro's office determined damage predated Hearn's visit. Trump publicly criticized Pirro's decision. The request to Main Justice headquarters marks an extraordinary instance of White House pressure on DOJ prosecutorial decisions, departing from traditional arm's-length separation.
• White House directed Justice Department to reconsider Reflecting Pool vandalism prosecution — Trump's White House asked the Justice Department to examine whether prosecutors could bring new charges related to alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The DOJ had previously prosecuted former Olympic canoeist David Hearn over damage to the pool liner, but prosecutors dropped the case after reviewing evidence showing that rushed and flawed renovation work, not vandalism, caused the problems. Trump repeatedly blamed vandals for the damage and, despite new evidence, criticized the decision to drop the case and urged U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to reconsider it.

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• Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general — The US Senate voted 50-49 to confirm Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal attorney, as attorney general. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cast the deciding vote after two Republicans (Collins, Murkowski) opposed the nomination. Blanche had been serving in an acting capacity and faced pushback over a proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" and tax immunity provisions for Trump, his sons, and businesses. Cornyn and Tillis secured written assurances the fund would not proceed, enabling narrow confirmation.
• Todd Blanche confirmed as US Attorney General — The Republican-controlled Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as US Attorney General. Legal scholar Sherrilyn Ifill characterized the confirmation as signaling the collapse of the rule of law and the beginning of an accelerated program to suppress dissent. The confirmation occurred amid ongoing concerns about the use of the Justice Department as a political instrument.
• Senate confirmed Trump's former criminal defense lawyer Todd Blanche as attorney general — The Senate narrowly voted to confirm Todd Blanche, Trump's former criminal defense lawyer, as attorney general on August 8. As acting attorney general, Blanche greenlit the second indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, reauthorized the use of firing squads for death penalty executions, and signed off on a $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund" (now supposedly rescinded). The confirmation marks a significant shift in DOJ leadership toward Trump's personal interests.
• Senate Republicans confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General — At 4:00 a.m. on August 9, 2026, just before a five-week recess, Senate Republicans confirmed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to the permanent position of Attorney General of the United States. Blanche, who served as President Trump's personal criminal lawyer, becomes the top law enforcement officer of the country. Some Republicans, including 92-year-old Senate Judiciary Committee chair Chuck Grassley, expressed enthusiasm for the nomination. Others expressed skepticism but stated they believed confirming Blanche was preferable to allowing Trump to select an alternative candidate.
• Todd Blanche sworn in as attorney general by Trump defense lawyer Emil Bove — On August 10, Todd Blanche took the oath of office as attorney general, administered by federal appeals court judge Emil Bove, a Trump defense lawyer who later became deputy at the Department of Justice. The ceremony excluded the press but included FBI director Kash Patel and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Retired conservative judge J. Michael Luttig characterized Blanche as "the symbol of Donald Trump's corruption of the rule of law" and called his confirmation "a shameful act of acquiescence" by Senate Republicans.
• Todd Blanche sworn in as US attorney general — Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal criminal defense lawyer, was sworn in as US attorney general on Monday following a narrow 50-49 Senate confirmation vote on Saturday. Blanche had been serving as acting attorney general since April. He previously represented Trump in criminal cases before joining the administration as deputy attorney general in early 2025. His tenure has included the departure of over 200 prosecutors and agents who worked on Trump-related investigations.

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• Trump threatened to withdraw Blanche's nomination and resubmit it after Cornyn and Tillis leave office. — After the Blanche vote was canceled, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would "temporarily withdraw" Blanche's nomination if Cornyn and Tillis did not "do the right thing," with the intention to resubmit it after the two senators leave office. Trump attacked both senators, claiming his prior refusal to endorse them had "ended" their political careers. He praised Blanche as a potential "Greatest AG of All Time" and stated Blanche would "remain, in any event, as Acting." The post signaled Trump's intent to circumvent Senate opposition through procedural delay and attrition.
• Trump threatens to withdraw Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination — Trump threatened to withdraw his nomination of Todd Blanche as attorney general after Senators Cornyn and Tillis refused to confirm him without a written revocation of Trump's tax audit immunity and January 6th slush fund. The senators' conditional refusal to confirm created a standoff over Trump's demand to retain immunity protections and control of discretionary funds related to January 6th.
• Trump refuses to narrow tax immunity agreement despite Republican senators' written limits request — Donald Trump declined a request from Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis to formally limit the scope of a controversial tax immunity agreement that grants him, his family, and related entities broad protection from IRS audits. The agreement, part of a settlement ending a lawsuit over unauthorized disclosure of Trump's tax records, includes a $1.8 billion slush fund. Trump's refusal to narrow the deal jeopardized confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general, though Blanche can continue serving as acting AG indefinitely under federal law.
• Trump reverses position on $1.8bn "anti-weaponization" fund and vows to revive it despite Senate opposition — Donald Trump, after initially declaring a controversial $1.8bn "anti-weaponization" fund "dead," reversed course and promised to revive it through legislation or executive action. The fund, part of a legal settlement with the DOJ over Trump's IRS lawsuit, is intended to compensate individuals Trump claims were wrongfully targeted by government. Senate Republicans John Cornyn and Thom Tillis are blocking Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination over the fund dispute, demanding written assurance the DOJ will not establish it. Trump threatened to withdraw Blanche's nomination, keep him as acting attorney general, and "push hard" for the fund anyway.
• Trump threatens to withdraw Blanche AG nomination temporarily, keep him as acting attorney general — Donald Trump announced he may "temporarily" withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general to circumvent Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who are blocking confirmation over objections to a $1.8 billion political-weaponization compensation fund and tax immunity provisions. Trump stated he would keep Blanche as acting attorney general indefinitely under federal law until the two senators leave office in January 2027. The Senate Judiciary Committee canceled a scheduled confirmation vote on Thursday.

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• Trump administration directs DOJ investigation of California Governor Newsom and his wife — Governor Gavin Newsom announced that Donald Trump directed the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom. Federal agents have contacted family friends and former employees, demanding records and allegedly abusing the grand jury process. A source confirmed the administration has conducted multiple investigations for roughly a year, including one regarding his wife's taxes and one related to his former chief of staff. Newsom filed a Freedom of Information Act request demanding disclosure of who ordered the investigation.
• Trump Justice Department investigates California Governor Gavin Newsom — California Governor Gavin Newsom announced in a video that Trump's Justice Department is investigating him and his wife, noting that the couple have been placed on the president's political "hit list." Newsom posted on X that federal agents are on a "fishing expedition" to find a crime to indict him as he prepares a possible run for president in 2028. The investigation appears politically motivated and timed to Newsom's potential 2028 presidential ambitions.

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• Vice President Vance referred Minnesota Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison to DOJ for fraud investigation — Vice President J.D. Vance announced he would refer Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to the Department of Justice for investigation of criminal fraud. The referral was based on claims that Somali immigrants in Minnesota are engaging in social services fraud while Democrats overlook it. Governor Walz characterized Vance's attacks as a "campaign of retribution" meant to punish blue states, while Attorney General Ellison called the allegations "unfounded" and a "political stunt," stating that diverting official powers and public resources to pursue political adversaries "diminishes public trust in our institutions."

Supporting reports

• DOJ issued order permanently barring federal government from pursuing tax claims against Trump and affiliated entities — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order stating that the federal government is permanently barred from pursuing tax-related claims, reviews, examinations, and appeals against Trump, his family members, and affiliated companies. The order uses language stating the US "RELEASES, WAIVES, ACQUITS, and FOREVER DISCHARGES" Trump and is "FOREVER BARRED and PRECLUDED" from pursuing monetary relief or other actions against Trump and related individuals, including family members, trusts, and subsidiaries.
• Trump granted permanent immunity from IRS tax investigations and prosecution — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed off on a provision in Trump's settlement that permanently prohibits the IRS from investigating or prosecuting the president, his family, or his businesses for pending tax claims, including a current audit that could have cost Trump more than $100 million. Former IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel stated he was unaware of any precedent where the IRS agreed in advance to permanently forgo examination of previously filed tax returns for a specific person or business.
• Department of Justice amends agreement to release Trump from all IRS prosecution and audits — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an amended agreement that declares the United States "RELEASES, WAIVES, ACQUITS, and FOREVER DISCHARGES" Trump, his sons, the Trump Organization, and "related or affiliated individuals" or companies from all IRS claims. The amendment asserts a blanket promise to cease all IRS audits of Trump's taxes and not to prosecute any crimes Trump, his family, businesses, or associates may have committed involving the IRS. This effectively grants Trump immunity from tax prosecution.
• Justice Department amends settlement agreement to permanently bar IRS from auditing Trump's tax returns — The Department of Justice, through acting attorney general Todd Blanche, added an addendum to a settlement agreement on May 20, 2026, permanently barring the IRS from auditing Donald Trump's past tax returns, as well as those of his family, company, and related entities for all filings prior to the agreement. This amendment was appended to a controversial $1.776 billion compensation fund created to settle Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and other government claims. The provision was posted quietly to the DOJ website the day after the fund's announcement and drew immediate criticism from Senate Democrats during Blanche's testimony.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration considers settling $10bn IRS lawsuit with $1.7bn compensation fund for allies including January 6 rioters — The Trump administration is reportedly negotiating to settle Trump's $10bn lawsuit against the IRS by establishing a $1.7bn compensation fund using the Treasury Department's Judgment Fund. The fund would compensate individuals Trump claims were wrongfully targeted by the Biden administration, including over 1,500 January 6 rioters. The settlement would also include a public IRS apology and waiver of audits on Trump, his family, and businesses. A federal judge has appointed attorneys to examine whether a genuine legal controversy exists, raising concerns about self-dealing and potential DOJ manipulation.
• Trump withdrew IRS lawsuit; DOJ established $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" from Judgment Fund — Attorneys for President Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization filed notice voluntarily dismissing a $10 billion IRS lawsuit in federal court in Miami with prejudice. In exchange, the Justice Department announced creation of a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" drawn from the federal Judgment Fund to issue apologies and monetary relief to people claiming government "weaponization" or "lawfare." A five-member commission appointed by the Attorney General will decide beneficiaries; the President can remove any member. Quarterly reports go to the Attorney General, not the public. The fund must cease processing claims by December 2028.
• Trump settles IRS lawsuit and establishes $1.8bn anti-weaponization fund — Trump settled his lawsuit against the IRS over the leaking of his tax information by a whistleblower, abandoning his $10bn damages claim in exchange for a financial agreement that allowed him to establish a $1.776bn "anti-weaponization fund." Federal Judge Kathleen Williams approved the settlement on May 18. Critics and Democrats argue the fund functions as a "slush fund" designed to distribute taxpayer dollars to Trump's political allies, including those convicted of violence during the January 6 Capitol riot, whom Trump subsequently pardoned.
• Justice Department announces Anti-Weaponization Fund settlement with Trump entities — The Department of Justice announced establishment of "The Anti-Weaponization Fund" as part of a settlement agreement in President Donald J. Trump v. Internal Revenue Service. The fund, capitalized at $1.776 billion from the judgment fund, will process claims from individuals alleging weaponization or lawfare by government. Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization agreed to drop their lawsuit with prejudice and withdraw administrative claims related to tax-return leaks, the Mar-a-Lago raid, and Russia-collusion investigations in exchange for a formal apology (but no monetary damages to them personally) and creation of the fund. The fund will cease operations by December 1, 2028.
• DOJ establishes $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" for January 6 defendants and MAGA loyalists — The Department of Justice created a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded "Anti-Weaponization Fund" designated to provide financial support to January 6th insurrectionists and MAGA loyalists. The fund represents a direct allocation of federal resources to individuals convicted or charged in connection with the Capitol attack, effectively using public money to benefit political allies and those involved in the assault on the Capitol.
• DOJ establishes $1.776 billion fund for January 6 defendants and Trump allies — The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced the creation of a $1.776 billion fund designated "for victims of lawfare and weaponization" to provide monetary relief and formal apologies to claimants. The fund will be administered by a five-member Commission appointed by the Attorney General, with one member chosen in consultation with congressional leadership. The President retains authority to remove any Commission member. The fund is expected to provide payouts to individuals convicted or charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol breach and Trump administration officials.
• DOJ announced Anti-Weaponization Fund eligibility may include January 6 defendants — ABC News and TIME reported before the fund announcement that the proposed $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund could include people charged in connection with January 6. Reuters notes that "weaponization" and "lawfare" are terms the President and allies have used to describe criminal cases arising from the Capitol attack. The Hill reports that several convicted January 6 defendants have pending civil suits. DOJ has not publicly released eligibility criteria or named beneficiaries.
• DOJ announces $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" as Trump settlement — Trump's Justice Department officially announced the $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" as part of a settlement with Trump in his lawsuit against the Treasury Department and IRS over the leaking of his tax returns. The fund will be overseen by a commission appointed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, whose members Trump can fire without cause, and will be made available in secret to those claiming wrongful government targeting, potentially including those Trump pardoned for January 6 involvement.
• Trump administration dismisses $10bn IRS lawsuit and establishes $1.776bn secretive compensation fund — The Justice Department announced creation of a $1.776bn "Anti-Weaponization Fund" as part of an agreement in which Trump and his sons dropped a $10bn lawsuit against the IRS. The fund, overseen by five commissioners (four appointed by the attorney general and removable by Trump), will compensate Trump allies with minimal transparency—quarterly reports go only to the attorney general and are confidential. Trump and his sons receive formal apologies but no monetary compensation. Democrats and watchdog groups condemned the arrangement as a slush fund funneling taxpayer dollars to political allies.
• Department of Justice announces $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" to compensate Trump and associates — The Department of Justice, under Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, announced the creation of a $1.776 billion fund purportedly to compensate victims of alleged "weaponization" of the Justice Department under former President Biden. The fund was established following Trump's withdrawal of a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS after a contractor leaked his tax information. Judge Kathleen Williams dismissed the suit, noting no legal settlement existed. The fund is controlled by five administrators, four chosen by Blanche and one in consultation with Congress, all removable by Trump without cause. Distributions are confidential and overseen only by the DOJ. Remaining funds after December 2028 revert to Trump's chosen federal account.
• Creation of $1.776 billion compensation fund for Trump allies with minimal oversight — The Department of Justice announced creation of a $1.776 billion compensation fund on May 19–20, 2026, to settle Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and other government claims. The fund is administered by five officials subject to at-will removal by the president, operates with minimal transparency requirements, and is not obligated to publicly disclose recipients or justifications for awards. Senate Democrats criticized the arrangement as an "outrageous, unprecedented slush fund." Acting attorney general Blanche testified that no limitations exist on who may seek compensation, including those convicted of assaulting police on January 6, though he stated Trump and his sons would not receive direct compensation.
• DOJ announces creation of Anti-Weaponization Fund — The Department of Justice announced the establishment of a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" aimed at compensating individuals it describes as victims of lawfare under former President Joe Biden. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the fund is a lawful process for victims to seek redress. However, the fund is not a legal settlement related to Trump's dropped lawsuit against the IRS, and it grants Trump significant control over the distribution of taxpayer money without oversight.
• Justice Department announced $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund from Trump IRS lawsuit settlement — The Justice Department announced a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" created as part of a settlement of President Trump's lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. Trump, his two adult sons, and the Trump Organization dropped the suit and received a formal apology but no direct monetary payment. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal defense attorney, established the fund and will handpick the five-member commission deciding eligibility and payouts. The process is largely shielded from court review, and eligibility criteria remain undefined, with Blanche stating "anybody can apply."

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• DOJ prosecutors demoted after Comey indictment push — The Washington Post reported that prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia have been demoted or pushed out following the push to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey. The fallout has disrupted major cases, including one involving a deadly attack in Afghanistan. The action reflects apparent retaliation against prosecutors perceived as insufficiently loyal to the Trump administration's priorities.

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• Justice Department appoints Trump loyalist Joe diGenova to lead probe into officials who investigated Trump — The Justice Department announced the appointment of Joe diGenova, a Trump loyalist and 2020 election denier, to lead a Florida-based federal probe into intelligence and law enforcement officials who investigated Trump. DiGenova previously worked with Rudy Giuliani on efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and to obtain damaging information on then-candidate Joe Biden from Ukrainian officials. The appointment signals the administration's intent to investigate and potentially prosecute those who conducted prior investigations into Trump.
• Joe DiGenova sworn in to lead "Russia hoax investigation" — On April 20, 2026, Joe DiGenova, an 81-year-old former Trump election lawyer and conspiracy theorist, was sworn in to oversee a multi-year "grand conspiracy" investigation against Trump's perceived enemies, including former CIA director John Brennan. DiGenova stated that Trump "personally asked" him to lead the investigation and publicly sketched a grand conspiracy narrative framing investigations into Trump as a coordinated plot to deny him civil rights.

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• Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi; Todd Blanche becomes acting AG and affirms Trump's "right" to direct DOJ investigations — Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 2, 2026, after months of pressure to prosecute political rivals including James Comey, Letitia James, and Adam Schiff. Though the DOJ secured indictments against Comey and James, the cases collapsed. Trump was reportedly angered by the department's lack of progress in pursuing enemies. Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, subsequently stated Trump has the "right" to direct investigations at the justice department, signaling the administration's intent to weaponize law enforcement for political retribution.

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• Pam Bondi fired as Attorney General; Todd Blanche assumes interim role — President Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 1, 2026, shortly before delivering a primetime address on the Iran war. Trump announced her departure via Truth Social, stating she would transition to the private sector. According to reporting, Trump cited Bondi's alleged intervention in matters related to Rep. Eric Swalwell and FBI investigative documents concerning Swalwell's relationship with Christine Fang as a reason for the dismissal. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was named interim AG. Bondi reportedly pleaded for more time but Trump remained firm.
• Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi; Todd Blanche becomes acting AG and affirms Trump's "right" to direct DOJ investigations — Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 2, 2026, after months of pressure to prosecute political rivals including James Comey, Letitia James, and Adam Schiff. Though the DOJ secured indictments against Comey and James, the cases collapsed. Trump was reportedly angered by the department's lack of progress in pursuing enemies. Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, subsequently stated Trump has the "right" to direct investigations at the justice department, signaling the administration's intent to weaponize law enforcement for political retribution.
• Trump dismisses Attorney General Pam Bondi — President Trump announced on 2 April via Truth Social that Attorney General Pam Bondi was being removed from office. Trump cited her transition to "a much needed and important new job in the private sector" without explicitly naming the Epstein files as the reason, though reporting indicates her mishandling of the Epstein investigation and repeated missed disclosure deadlines under the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA) were a primary motivation for her ouster. Todd Blanche assumed the role of acting attorney general.
• Trump fires attorney general Pam Bondi — Donald Trump dismissed Pam Bondi as US attorney general after 14 months, citing frustration with her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and her failure to prosecute additional political enemies to his satisfaction. Bondi had reshaped the Justice Department through staff purges, shifted prosecutorial focus toward immigration, and complied with Trump's demands to indict former FBI director James Comey and New York attorney general Letitia James. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche assumed acting leadership; Lee Zeldin is reportedly a top contender for permanent replacement.
• Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi via social media — President Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi by posting her dismissal on social media. Trump was reportedly angry that Bondi had not adequately punished his political enemies and that her handling of the Epstein files had failed to contain the story. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, will serve as her replacement.
• Pam Bondi fired as Attorney General — President Trump terminated Pam Bondi as Attorney General on April 2, 2026. According to reporting, Bondi reportedly pleaded with Trump not to fire her during a confrontation at the White House. Trump released a statement describing her as a "Great American Patriot" transitioning to the private sector. Todd Blanche, Trump's former personal attorney and current Deputy Attorney General, assumed the role of Acting Attorney General. Bondi remains subject to a bipartisan congressional subpoena to testify before the Oversight Committee regarding the Epstein files.
• Trump appoints Todd Blanche as acting Attorney General — Trump appointed Deputy AG Todd Blanche, his former criminal defense attorney, to replace fired Attorney General Pam Bondi in an acting capacity on April 2. Blanche's appointment places a personal loyalist with no prior DOJ leadership experience in control of the nation's chief law enforcement agency, raising concerns about politicization of the Justice Department.
• Trump fires Attorney General Pam Bondi — Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on April 2 after she failed to prosecute Trump's perceived political enemies and mishandled the release of the Epstein files. CNN reported that Bondi's upcoming deposition about the Epstein files influenced the timing of her firing, as the White House sought to avoid it. Trump appointed Deputy AG Todd Blanche, his former criminal defense attorney, to replace Bondi in an acting capacity. Bondi is the second woman in Trump's Cabinet to be fired.

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• Trump threatened prosecution of DOJ officials over 2020 election claims — At the Davos speech, Trump stated that "People will soon be prosecuted for what they did" regarding the 2020 presidential election, which he falsely claimed was rigged. He asserted that DOJ officials and others would face prosecution for refusing to help him overturn the election results. The threat was made one day before former special counsel Jack Smith was scheduled to testify publicly about evidence leading to Trump's indictment for efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
• President Trump threatens prosecution of DOJ officials — During a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Trump claimed that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was rigged and threatened to prosecute Department of Justice officials who did not assist him in overturning the election results. This statement came as former special counsel Jack Smith was set to testify about evidence related to Trump's actions following the election. Trump's remarks indicate a continued effort to undermine the legitimacy of the election and discredit those who oppose him.
• Trump threatened Jack Smith and demanded investigation — After Jack Smith testified before the House Judiciary Committee, Trump's social media account posted a threatening message calling Smith a "deranged animal" who "shouldn't be allowed to practice Law" and stating that if Smith were a Republican, "his license would be taken away from him, and far worse." Trump demanded that the Attorney General investigate Smith's conduct, including his use of witnesses, and characterized the entire investigation as a "Democrat SCAM."
• Trump calls for prosecution of Jack Smith on Truth Social — On Truth Social, President Trump responded to Jack Smith's congressional testimony by calling for Smith to "be prosecuted for his actions" and arguing that "At a minimum, he committed large scale perjury!"
• Jack Smith testifies he expects Trump administration to indict him — During his public testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, former special counsel Jack Smith stated that he believes Trump administration officials will "do everything in their power" to indict him "because they've been ordered to by the president," but added that he "will not be intimidated." Smith also expressed concern about Trump's mass pardons of people who assaulted police officers.

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• Trump directs DOJ to open new Epstein investigation — President Trump directed the Department of Justice to open a new investigation into Epstein's ties to former President Bill Clinton, JPMorgan Chase officials, and others. The directive was issued on November 14, days before the House vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The statute authorizes DOJ to withhold records tied to "ongoing federal investigations," potentially allowing the department to justify withholding documents the transparency bill was designed to release.
• Trump ordered DOJ to open a new investigation into Epstein's ties to Bill Clinton, JPMorgan, and others. — President Trump ordered the Department of Justice to open a new investigation into Epstein's ties to Bill Clinton, JPMorgan, and others. This order was issued one week before Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The timing creates potential for the "ongoing investigation" exception in the transparency law to be invoked to withhold records that would otherwise be required to be released within 30 days.
• Trump directs DOJ to investigate Democrats' ties to Epstein — President Trump instructed the Justice Department to investigate prominent Democrats' alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who had previously stated that a review of Epstein files revealed no further investigative leads, agreed to comply and appointed a prosecutor to lead the effort. This action occurred amid the legislative push to release Epstein investigative files.
• Trump directed Attorney General Bondi to investigate Democrats named in Epstein documents — President Trump asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Democrats whose names appeared in documents released by the House Oversight Committee from the Epstein estate, specifically naming former President Bill Clinton, former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. Bondi responded that the Department of Justice "will pursue this with urgency and integrity." The Washington Post reported that these individuals' connections to Epstein had been covered by reporters for years, and that in July, Justice Department officials stated an FBI examination "did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties."
• Trump directed DOJ to investigate Epstein's connections to Democratic figures — Trump posted on Truth Social directing Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice to investigate Jeffrey Epstein's involvement and relationships with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, J.P. Morgan Chase, and others. Trump characterized the Epstein files release effort as a "hoax" and "Russia, Russia, Russia Scam" with arrows pointing to Democrats. The posts confirmed Trump personally directs criminal investigations and is targeting political opponents.

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• Trump announces expectation of additional criminal charges against political adversaries — President Trump stated on Friday that he expected more people he considers political enemies to face criminal charges, saying "I think there'll be others" as he departed the White House. Trump characterized his targets as "corrupt radical left Democrats." His remarks came one day after the DOJ indicted Comey and followed Trump's recent calls for his attorney general to pursue investigations against New York Attorney General Letitia James and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff over mortgage fraud allegations.

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• Executive order designating Antifa as domestic terrorist organization — The President issued an executive order on September 22, 2025, designating Antifa as a "domestic terrorist organization." The order characterizes Antifa as a militarist, anarchist enterprise engaged in coordinated violence, armed standoffs with law enforcement, organized riots, and suppression of political speech. It directs all executive departments and agencies to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle illegal operations conducted by Antifa or persons acting on its behalf, including prosecutorial actions against those funding such operations.
• Trump signs executive order designating antifa as domestic terrorist organization — President Trump signed an executive order on September 22, 2025, designating antifa as a "domestic terrorist organization." The order characterizes antifa as a "militarist, anarchist enterprise" calling for overthrow of the U.S. government. Trump announced the move via Truth Social the previous week, citing the killing of far-right commentator Charlie Kirk on September 10 as justification, though no evidence links Kirk's suspected assassin to antifa. Legal experts note no statutory framework exists for domestic terrorist designations due to First Amendment concerns, and antifa operates as a decentralized ideology rather than a formal organization.
• Trump designated "antifa" as a domestic terrorist organization via executive order — Trump issued an executive order designating "antifa"—short for "antifascists"—as a "MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION," characterizing protesters standing against administration policies as attempting to "overthrow the United States Government, law enforcement authorities, and our system of law." The order claimed they coordinate to riot, assault law enforcement, and dox political figures and activists.
• Trump signed executive order designating Antifa as terrorist organization — On September 22, President Trump signed an executive order designating "Antifa" as "a major terrorist organization." Three days later he called demonstrators in Portland "professional agitators and anarchists." The order came amid ongoing protests at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland.
• Trump issues executive order designating Antifa as domestic terrorist organization — President Donald Trump issued an executive order on September 22, 2025, formally designating Antifa as a "domestic terrorist organization." The order characterizes Antifa as a "militarist, anarchist enterprise" that uses violence and terrorism to obstruct federal law enforcement and suppress political activity. It directs all relevant executive departments and agencies to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle illegal operations conducted by Antifa or persons acting on its behalf, including prosecutorial action against those funding such operations.
• White House issues executive order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization — President Trump signed an executive order on September 22, 2025, designating Antifa as a "domestic terrorist organization." The order characterizes Antifa as a "militarist, anarchist enterprise" that uses violence and terrorism to obstruct federal law enforcement and suppress political activity. It directs all executive departments and agencies to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle illegal operations conducted by Antifa or persons acting on its behalf, including prosecutorial actions against those who fund such operations.
• White House issues fact sheet on executive order designating Antifa as domestic terrorist organization — The White House published a fact sheet on September 22, 2025, describing an executive order signed by President Trump designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. The order directs federal agencies to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle operations and funding sources associated with Antifa. The fact sheet characterizes Antifa as a "militarist, anarchist enterprise" engaged in political violence, armed standoffs, riots, and assaults on law enforcement, and claims a 1000% increase in assaults on ICE officers.
• Trump signs executive order designating "antifa" as domestic terrorist organization — Trump signed an executive order designating "antifa" as a domestic terrorist organization, despite "antifa" being a decentralized anti-fascist movement without formal organization, leadership, or membership. The order is legally problematic because the government cannot legally designate domestic groups as terrorist organizations. The order is broadly written, targeting those involved in "armed standoffs with law enforcement, organized riots, violent assaults on ICE and other law enforcement officers, and routine doxing of and other threats against political figures and activists." As written, the order could criminalize anyone protesting or filming ICE officers as a domestic terrorist.
• White House issues release framing Antifa designation as domestic terrorist organization — The White House issued a promotional release on September 22, 2025, asserting that President Trump "designated Antifa — a network of Radical Left terrorists" as a domestic terrorist organization. The release catalogs alleged violent incidents attributed to Antifa and left-wing actors spanning 2017–2025, including attacks on ICE facilities, bombings, riots, and assassinations. The document frames these acts as evidence of an "epidemic of Radical Left violence" and positions the designation as a response to domestic terrorism. No separate executive order or formal instrument text is attached to this release.

Supporting reports

• Trump demands DOJ prosecute Comey, James, and Schiff on Truth Social — On September 20, 2025, Trump posted on Truth Social demanding that Attorney General Pam Bondi bring charges against former FBI director James Comey, New York attorney general Letitia James, and California senator Adam Schiff. Trump stated "We can't delay any longer, it's killing our reputation and credibility" and "JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!" The post represents direct presidential pressure on the justice department to prosecute political opponents.
• Trump posts demand for prosecution of political opponents on social media — On September 20, Trump posted a message on social media apparently intended privately for Attorney General Pam Bondi, demanding prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Senator Adam Schiff. Trump wrote: "We can't delay any longer, it's killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!" The posting violated the Presidential Records Act, which requires preservation of presidential communications.
• Trump posts message to Bondi demanding Comey indictment — On September 20, 2025, President Trump posted a message on social media apparently intended as a private communication to Attorney General Pam Bondi, demanding that the Justice Department indict Comey and others. The message was posted publicly.
• Trump threatened to fire AG Bondi if she did not indict political enemies — Trump posted on Truth Social threatening AG Pam Bondi with removal if she did not immediately indict his political opponents, specifically naming former FBI Director James Comey and Rep. Adam Schiff. He stated "JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!" and demanded action against those he claimed were "guilty as hell." The posts were framed as pressure on Bondi to accelerate prosecutions of Trump's perceived enemies.
• Trump publicly pressures Attorney General to prosecute political enemies — Trump posted on Truth Social demanding that Attorney General Pam Bondi prosecute his political opponents, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI Director James Comey, and Senator Adam Schiff. Trump wrote that "We can't delay any longer, it's killing our reputation and credibility" and demanded "JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!" The posts came as the Justice Department was being restructured to remove career prosecutors resisting political pressure.
• Trump Publicly Pressures Attorney General to Prosecute Political Enemies — On September 20, 2025, President Trump accidentally posted a private message intended for Attorney General Pam Bondi on Truth Social, revealing his direct pressure on her to prosecute political opponents, including James Comey and Letitia James. The message, visible to approximately 10.8 million followers before being deleted, expressed frustration over perceived inaction and demanded immediate justice. Following the post, both Comey and James were indicted. This incident highlights the President's use of social media to influence legal proceedings against his adversaries.
• Trump claimed he fired Siebert and pressured Attorney General Bondi for prosecutions — On Saturday morning, Trump posted on social media that Siebert "didn't quit, I fired him." In the evening, Trump posted what appeared to be a direct message to Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding prosecution of his political opponents, stating: "We can't delay any longer, it's killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!" Trump explicitly demanded action against James Comey, Adam Schiff, and Letitia James.
• Trump calls for DOJ action against political opponents; FCC threatens ABC over Kimmel criticism — Trump posted on social media demanding that Attorney General Pam Bondi pursue legal action against Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James on mortgage fraud allegations, despite a federal prosecutor's resignation after finding insufficient evidence. Simultaneously, FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke ABC's broadcast licenses after Jimmy Kimmel criticized the administration's response to Charlie Kirk's death, prompting ABC to pull Kimmel's show indefinitely. Democratic leaders warned these actions constitute a path toward dictatorship.

Supporting reports

• Trump directs Attorney General Bondi to appoint aide to prosecute political rivals — After the Homan investigation report was published, Trump posted on social media directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide and Trump's former personal lawyer, as interim US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia. Trump's stated purpose was to enable prosecution of Democratic political rivals Adam Schiff and Letitia James on mortgage fraud charges both deny. This followed the forced removal of interim US attorney Erik Siebert, reportedly for refusing to bring charges against James due to lack of evidence.

Supporting reports

• Trump attempts to remove Federal Reserve governor and other non-appointed officials — Trump is attempting to remove dozens of personnel he did not appoint, including a Federal Reserve governor, a top official at the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, prosecutors who investigated him, and leaders across the government including the National Archivist.
• Trump installs second deputy at FBI after souring on first — The White House installed a second deputy at the FBI after becoming dissatisfied with the first, continuing a pattern of rapid personnel changes across agencies.
• Trump pressures Treasury secretary to fire agency's second-in-command — Trump pushed his Treasury secretary to fire the agency's second-in-command, demonstrating continued pressure on cabinet officials to remove personnel who may not align with administration priorities.
• Trump removes acting FEMA administrator over disagreement on agency's continued existence — The White House removed the acting FEMA administrator after he stated the agency should continue to exist, contradicting others in the administration.
• Trump removes IRS director after two months over Treasury Department clash — Trump replaced the head of the IRS less than two months into the job because appointee Billy Long clashed with officials at the Treasury Department. This removal is part of a broader pattern of Trump firing appointees and career officials across multiple agencies.
• Trump removes two DOJ antitrust officials over alleged deal-making with lobbyists — Two top DOJ antitrust officials were removed from their roles after clashing with senior officials at the agency. They accused their colleagues of cutting deals with favored lobbyists. One of the removed officials has publicly questioned the integrity of other DOJ officials.
• Department of Justice launched criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — The Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into Lisa Cook, a governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve, for allegedly committing mortgage fraud by claiming two separate properties as her primary residence. Pro Publica reported that three Trump Cabinet members—Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin—have engaged in the same conduct but face no investigation.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired CDC director Susan Monarez — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired newly confirmed CDC Director Susan Monarez after she refused to preapprove recommendations from a vaccine advisory panel that Kennedy had stacked with anti-vaccine advocates. This action followed Kennedy's earlier purges of thousands of CDC advisors and staffers who did not share his opposition to vaccines.
• Trump fires Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — President Trump removed Lisa Cook from her position as a Federal Reserve governor. This action raised concerns about central bank independence, as it represents part of a broader pattern of Trump's attacks on the Federal Reserve's autonomy. Trump's nominee to replace Cook stated he would respect Fed independence, but the removal itself signals potential politicization of monetary policy.

Supporting reports

• Trump directs FHFA head Pulte to publicly accuse Democratic opponents of mortgage fraud and demand Cook's resignation from Federal Reserve — Bill Pulte, appointed by Trump to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has publicly accused New York Attorney General Letitia James, California Senator Adam Schiff, and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook of owner-occupancy mortgage fraud via social media and referrals to the Department of Justice. Trump has demanded Cook resign and threatened to fire her if she does not step down. Cook, the first Black woman appointed to the Fed, denies the allegations and states she will not be "bullied" into resigning. The accusations remain unverified.
• Sen. Adam Schiff accused Trump administration of mortgage-based political persecution — Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), who is being criminally investigated after a referral from Bill Pulte, stated that the Trump administration's use of mortgage investigations against political opponents is "patently false" and that Pulte is "essentially doing the president's bidding." Schiff stated that "Mortgage is their new weapon to go after their critics" and that the administration will "manufacture anything to go after their critics."
• Trump administration weaponized Federal Housing Finance Agency against political opponents — The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration weaponized the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to investigate mortgage records of political opponents. Bill Pulte, a homebuilder heir appointed to lead the agency overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, initiated probes into mortgages of prominent Democrats and a Biden-appointed Federal Reserve official. Pulte partnered Fannie Mae with Palantir, a data analysis firm co-founded by Peter Thiel, and took an unusually active role at both firms.
• Bill Pulte weaponized Federal Housing Finance Agency to investigate Democrats for mortgage fraud — Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, weaponized the typically low-key, non-political agency to open investigations of Democrats for alleged mortgage fraud. Pulte made a criminal referral against Senator Adam Schiff and others, and provided the justification for Trump's attempted firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, citing mortgage fraud concerns. Pulte posted on social media that "fraud will not be tolerated in President Trump's housing market."

Supporting reports

• Trump threatens investigation of Chris Christie — Trump threatened to investigate former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie over the 2013 "Bridgegate" scandal after Christie criticized Trump's views on separation of powers during an ABC News interview. The threat represents potential retaliation for political criticism.

Supporting reports

• Trump acknowledged potential involvement in Bolton raid — When asked whether he knew about the FBI raid on John Bolton ahead of time or had involvement, Trump stated: "I could know about it. I could be the one starting it. I'm actually the chief law enforcement officer." The statement suggests potential presidential direction or knowledge of law enforcement action against a political critic.